Movistar and Team Katusha are fierce WorldTour rivals but they share one key element that helps them bridge the Spanish and Russian cultural gap: they both use Canyon Bikes.
So close is their rivalry that the two outfits populated the top-four spots in the individual rankings at the end of 2015 and, most importantly, with very different riders. For the races that demand wind-slicing aerodynamics, the Aeroad is the weapon of choice, but up until now the brand has been reserved for the professionals and not available to us mere mortals in Australia. Not any more!
Now, a stable of German-engineered bikes, including the Aeroad, are available here in Australia. Slated as the roadie’s speed-machine, our complete Aeroad CF SLX 9.0 in size medium tipped the scales at just 6,970g. Even with a pair of pedals and a couple of cages thrown in, it’s clearly no slouch for the hillier terrain either.
Equipped with Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 and direct mount brakes, Mavic Cosmic Carbon SLE wheels and Canyon’s own integrated H11 aerocockpit and S27 Aero post, the Aeroad is the perfect performance-oriented machine. The handlebar and stem setup can be configured at time of purchase and, if using Di2, there’s a recessed spot to house the junction box while the battery will sit safely inside the frame, concealed from the wind.
And if you thought the aero-profiled frame and pro geometry were designed exclusively for high-speed, shorter stages or criteriums, just rewind to this year’s Tour of Flanders when Alexander Kristoff used his custom-finished Aeroad to power across the bone-jarring Belgian cobbles to victory – after nearly six-and-a-half hours of racing.
Stay tuned for a full review in a coming edition of Cyclist.
Canyon Aeroad CF SLX 9.0: $6,799 (+ shipping)